Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Session \Ses"sion\, n. [L. sessio, fr. sedere, sessum, to sit:
   cf. F. session. See {Sit}.]
   1. The act of sitting, or the state of being seated.
      [Archaic]

            So much his ascension into heaven and his session at
            the right hand of God do import.      --Hooker.

            But Viven, gathering somewhat of his mood, . . .
            Leaped from her session on his lap, and stood.
                                                  --Tennyson.

   2. The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, etc.,
      or the actual assembly of the members of such a body, for
      the transaction of business.

            It's fit this royal session do proceed. --Shak.

   3. Hence, also, the time, period, or term during which a
      court, council, legislature, etc., meets daily for
      business; or, the space of time between the first meeting
      and the prorogation or adjournment; thus, a session of
      Parliaments is opened with a speech from the throne, and
      closed by prorogation. The session of a judicial court is
      called a term.

            It was resolved that the convocation should meet at
            the beginning of the next session of Parliament.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   Note: Sessions, in some of the States, is particularly used
         as a title for a court of justices, held for granting
         licenses to innkeepers, etc., and for laying out
         highways, and the like; it is also the title of several
         courts of criminal jurisdiction in England and the
         United States.

   {Church session}, the lowest court in the Presbyterian
      Church, composed of the pastor and a body of elders
      elected by the members of a particular church, and having
      the care of matters pertaining to the religious interests
      of that church, as the admission and dismission of
      members, discipline, etc.

   {Court of Session}, the supreme civil court of Scotland.

   {Quarter sessions}. (Eng.Law) See under {Quarter}.

   {Sessions of the peace}, sittings held by justices of the
      peace. [Eng.]



      In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom. --Shak.

      I knew two that were competitors for the secretary's
      place, . . . and yet kept good quarter between themselves.
                                                  --Bacon.

   {False quarter}, a cleft in the quarter of a horse's foot.

   {Fifth quarter}, the hide and fat; -- a butcher's term.

   {On the quarter} (Naut.), in a direction between abeam and
      astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter.
      

   {Quarter aspect}. (Astrol.) Same as {Quadrate}.

   {Quarter back} (Football), the player who has position next
      behind center rush, and receives the ball on the snap
      back.

   {Quarter badge} (Naut.), an ornament on the side of a vessel
      near, the stern. --Mar. Dict.

   {Quarter bill} (Naut.), a list specifying the different
      stations to be taken by the officers and crew in time of
      action, and the names of the men assigned to each.

   {Quarter block} (Naut.), a block fitted under the quarters of
      a yard on each side of the slings, through which the clew
      lines and sheets are reeved. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

   {Quarter boat} (Naut.), a boat hung at a vessel's quarter.

   {Quarter cloths} (Naut.), long pieces of painted canvas, used
      to cover the quarter netting.

   {Quarter day}, a day regarded as terminating a quarter of the
      year; hence, one on which any payment, especially rent,
      becomes due. In matters influenced by United States
      statutes, quarter days are the first days of January,
      April, July, and October. In New York and many other
      places, as between landlord and tenant, they are the first
      days of May, August, November, and February. The quarter
      days usually recognized in England are 25th of March (Lady
      Day), the 24th of June (Midsummer Day), the 29th of
      September (Michaelmas Day), and the 25th of December
      (Christmas Day).

   {Quarter face}, in fine arts, portrait painting, etc., a face
      turned away so that but one quarter is visible.

   {Quarter gallery} (Naut.), a balcony on the quarter of a
      ship. See {Gallery}, 4.

   {Quarter gunner} (Naut.), a petty officer who assists the
      gunner.

   {Quarter look}, a side glance. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.

   {Quarter nettings} (Naut.), hammock nettings along the
      quarter rails.

   {Quarter note} (Mus.), a note equal in duration to half a
      minim or a fourth of semibreve; a crochet.

   {Quarter pieces} (Naut.), several pieces of timber at the
      after-part of the quarter gallery, near the taffrail.
      --Totten.

   {Quarter point}. (Naut.) See {Quarter}, n., 1
      (n) .

   {Quarter railing}, or {Quarter rails} (Naut.), narrow molded
      planks reaching from the top of the stern to the gangway,
      serving as a fence to the quarter-deck.

   {Quarter sessions} (Eng. Law), a general court of criminal
      jurisdiction held quarterly by the justices of peace in
      counties and by the recorders in boroughs.

   {Quarter square} (Math.), the fourth part of the square of a
      number. Tables of quarter squares have been devised to
      save labor in multiplying numbers.

   {Quarter turn}, {Quarter turn belt} (Mach.), an arrangement
      in which a belt transmits motion between two shafts which
      are at right angles with each other.

   {Quarter watch} (Naut.), a subdivision of the full watch (one
      fourth of the crew) on a man-of- war.

   {To give}, or {show}, {quarter} (Mil.), to accept as
      prisoner, on submission in battle; to forbear to kill, as
      a vanquished enemy.

   {To keep quarter}. See {Quarter}, n., 3.

Source : WordNet®

quarter sessions
     n : a local court with criminal jurisdiction and sometimes
         administrative functions